responsible travel...

Making new friends will be one of the greatest joys of your travels. Don't expect any special privileges though, as you may be only one of many travellers to the area. Accept and enjoy offers of hospitality when you can by taking the time to chat with the locals you will learn about their daily lives, culture and attitude to life. Be prepared for lots of questions. Just walking in the street you may be asked: "What's your name? How old are you?, - things you may consider personal. Don't be affronted or consider it rude or an invasion of privacy. It's usually genuine curiosity, friendliness or a desire to practice their English. Concepts of privacy in some countries can be very different to your home country.

We are dedicated to the protection and welfare of children and the disadvantaged communities that we visited and trust that all tour participants will honour these values. There are a few general codes of behaviour that you should be aware of when travelling on a tour.

In Asia crooking your finger to call somebody is considered impolite. People generally use a subtle downward waving motion to summon someone.

Also in Asian countries, showing affection in public is considered quite offensive . Away from the major urban centres it is extremely rare to see couples holding hands. To the contrary it is quite common to see friends of the same sex holding hands.

In most countries it is inappropriate to express anger in a raised voice. Becoming angry is embarrassing to the local people with whom you are dealing - they will not be embarrassed for themselves, but for you making a fool of yourself.

Many countries visited by our tours have conservative dress standards, loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.

Shorts should be knee-length. Singlets and tank tops are not suitable. Dress modestly at religious sites When in doubt about dress, look to how the majority of locals are clothed. Your tour leader will advise you when strict dress codes apply for sites eg arms and legs need to be covered when entering certain religious sites.

Shopping, bargaining and tipping

Whenever you can buy textiles and handicrafts directly from the makers in local villages - your tour leader and local guide will assist you if you need any help.

If you travel anywhere in Asia then you will somewhere along the way have to bargain. The most important thing is to remember to enjoy the experience and remember you're often only bargaining over only a couple of dollars - keep it in perspective. The art of bargaining is simple if you follow these tips:

Start bargaining with some idea of what you consider a fair price for the item to be - it varies from country to country so there is no set rule on what your starting price should be - in some countries you need to halve what they offer and in other countries you only reduce it by about 20%

The correct price for an item is the price you agree to pay, that keeps both you and the seller happy - there's no 'right' price;

Be polite, patient, but firm in your bargaining. No-one ever has received a cheaper price through being rude or insensitive;

Shop with a friend - buying in bulk will often reduce the price;

Learn the numbers in the local language. It will win respect from the seller and will certainly make the process a lot more interesting; and

Once a price you have offered is accepted it is not appropriate to back out of the deal.

In some cases the price offered first up will be reasonable for the work involved in producing the article - if this is the case and you think it is a fair price - just pay it and don't bargain. There are a number of 'set price' shops in many areas - have a browse through these if you want to get an idea of what the price of goods in the markets might be. In these shops you will need to pay the marked price.

Be aware that in many places our tours visit that the average wage is sometimes only a dollar a day and that many live in dire circumstances. Always keep this in mind whenever you bargain for anything. In some countries it will be necessary to bargain for tuk-tuk rides etc - find out what the going rate is from your tour leader - but be mindful when you are bargaining - would you push someone around in the heat of the day for a couple of dollars or less?

If you take a class or workshop during your tour you will sometimes have a local artisan helping you for the day - again their wages are usually very low so if they do a good job feel free to tip them accordingly. In restaurants etc wages are often very low so although you are not expected to tip everywhere - your tips will be greatly received.

Please also be aware of tipping too generously or handing out money - this can cause problems in the local community - always look to your tour leader or local guide to ask about tipping or giving out money.